Railroad-crossing gate



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Dec. l 1925- Dec, 1', 1925 C. BRADSHAW RAILROAD GRGSSING GATE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 23, 1925 Skinning Patented Dec. 1, 1925o UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE BRADSI-IAW, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD 'IO ALVIE E. HARMON AND ONETIIIRD T0 SANDS T. GUNN, BOTH OF PORTSMOUTH,

VIRGINIA.

RAILROAD-CROSSING GATE.

Application filed May 23, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE` BRADsi-iAw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad- Crossing Gates, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a railroad crossing gate structure and has for its principal object to pro-vide a crossing gate which is normally closed and has associated therewith a tread, which, when a vehicle runs thereon, will actuate the gate to an open position.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide means for holding the tread in a raised position as a train is passing by the crossing, so that vehicles o cannot actuate the gate to an open posi-- tion.

Another important object of the invention is to provi-de in combination a vehicle operr ated tread for actuating a gate to an open position by the weight of the vehicle, and a train actuated mechanism, one to each side of the road crossing having' associated therewith means whereby when the train actuates one mechanism, the other mechanism is moved to an inoperative position, so that when the train passes the road crossing and engages said other mechanism, the other mechanism will not be operated.

A still further object of thev invention is to provide a mechanism as outlined above, which is simple in its construction, reliable and efficient in its operation, strong, durable, 4not likely to Vbecome easily vout of order, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Vith the above and numerous other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the crossing showing the apparatus associated therewith and embodying the improvements of my invention,

Figure '2 is ,an elevation looking along the 1railroad tracky Serial No. 32,442.

Figure 6 is a detail elevation, taken substantially on the line 6-6 o'f Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 7 is a section,taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 1, showing the tread in a lowered position and the gate in an open position,

Figure 8 is a similar section, showing the tread ina vraised position and the gate in a closed position.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail perspective of the crank shaft operated by the train actuated bar,

Figure 10 is a detail perspective of the crank shaft and arm associated with the vehicle operated tread.

Figure 11 is a detail elevation showing an attachment to the bar 21.

Referring to the drawing infdetail, it will be seen that A designates a -vehicle roadway, and B a railroad track crossing the roadway. In the roadway A, there is provided a depression 5 having pivotally mounted therein as at 6 a tread 7 with a depending leg 8 at its free end restable on the shelf 9. Each depression 5 is disposed to the right of the roadway and there is one depression to each side of the railroad track B. A fence 10 is disposed alongside of each depression so that the vehicle must keep to the right of the roadway and pass over the treadway 7. A post 11 is mounted to the right of each depression 5 and has hinged thereon a gate 12 to which is flexibly connected a rod 13, as at 14. Ahorizontal extension 15 eX- tends from each post 11 away from the railroad track and pivotally supports a bar 16, the upperend of which is pivotally connected to the rod 13. A weight 16 is suspended fromthe upper end of each bar 16 for normally yholding tlie'gate closed.

The bars or extensions 15 are slidably mounted on the post l1 by pin and slot connections 17. Each bar :16 is fixed to a crank shaft 18,l These crank shafts 18 are 'lli journaled transversely of the depressions 5 and the crank portions 19 thereof engage the tread 7 and normally hold it in a raised position, as is indicated in Figure 8. lt will thus be seen that when a vehicle, 'such as an automobile, moves onto the tread 7 as is indicated in Figuie 7, this tread will swing down to a horizontal position coplaiier with the roadway A, thereby rotating the crank shaft and moving the bar 16 and extension 15, so as to 'swing the gate 12 to an open position. After the vehicle has passed over the tread 7, the weight 1G will swing the bar 1G so as to raise the tread 7 and close the gate, as shown in Figure S.

Adjacent each rail of the track B there is disposed a wheel engaging bar 21. There is one bar 21 to each side of the roadway A. as is clearly seen in Figure 1.. l shall describe the locking mechanism in connection with one member 21 only as both are identical in construction. The mountingof the bar 21 is shown to advantage in Figure (i, being pivoted on the upper ends of links 22, which are pivoted at their lower ends to the side of the adjacent rail, or in any other suitable inanner. A. link 23 is attached to the bar 21 and engages 'the crank 24 on the crank 'shaft 25, which is suitably journaled on one of the ties associated with the track B. An arm 26 extends from one end of the crank shaft and has mounted thereon a weight 27 which holds this crank shaft in a predetermined position with the bar 21 projected a distance above the top of the rail, so that when the wheels ride over the rail, this bar 21 will be depressed and will partially rotate the crank 25 through the intermediacy of link 23 and crank 24. Another crank 28 is provided in the crank shaft 25 and has connected thereto a rod 29 which is pivoted to another rod 30 which is in turn pivoted to a plate 31.

At the center of the intersection there is rotatably mounted the member 34, at the upper' end of which extends a bar 35, transversely of the railroad track, and at the lower end another bar 36, which extends transversely of the roadway. The bar has has upstanding ends 37, which are receivable in Aopenings 3S provided in the plates 31. Levers 39 are pivoted, as at 40, to swing in planes transversely of the railroad track. The bar 36 engages the lowei' ends of these levers, so that when the member 34 turns, these levers 39 are rocked. Rods are pivotally connected with the upper ends of levers 39 as at 41, and extend in opposite directions from each other, and are resiliently engaged with shoes 41', by means slidable to a limited yextent thereiii, and having 'springs 42 for normally holding the shoes 41 at the extremities of the rods 40. Springs 43 normally hold the levers 39 in the vertical position as shown in Figure 4, with the shoes 41 out of the path of movement of the legs 8.

Crank shafts 45 are journaled transversely of the railroad track tlierebelow, one to each side of thc rotatable member 34 as is disclosed to advantage in Figure Each shaft 45 has a relatively short crank at one end, and a relatively long crank 47 at the other end. A finger 48 extends outwardly and laterally of each crank 47 and engages the under surface of the adjacent plate 31, while the crank 46 engages the end of the other plate 31.

I have now described the various units of my invention with sufficient pai'ticularity to allow an understanding of the device as whole. As a train approaches, the wheels thereof ride over one of the bars 21, thereby depressing the same and actuating the crank shaft 25, for pushing the rod 29 and rod 30, and likewise pushing 'the corresponding plate 31, for rotating the member by the bar 35. This rotation of the member 34 will cause the swinging of bar 3G so as to swing the lever 39 and push the shoes 41 under the legs S, thereby holding each tread 7 in the raised position shown in Figure S, so that if a vehicle rides thereupon, the gate will not open. Simultaneously with the operation just described, it will be seen that the plate 31 which is pushed will rock the crank shaft 45 having its end 46 engaged therewith, thereby swinging` the crank upwardly to raise the other plate 31 out of engagement with the upturned end 37, so that as the train moves further on and engages tlie other bar 21, the operation thereof will not affect the treads 7 in any way, and after the last car has passed over the bar 21, 'the gates 1.2 will be free to be opened by a vehicle on one of the treads 7.

The present embodiment of the invention has been now set forth with sufficient clearness to enable those skilled in this art, to fully understand the structure, operation, and advantages of the invention. It is evident that in actual practico, certain refinements may be made to adapt this device to the particular circumstances encountered. It is also apparent that numerous changes in the details of construction, in the proportions, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the iiivention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Attention is called tothe attachment rods 50 having a pin and slot connection to the end of the bars 21 and pivoted to the rails at 51. The rods extend at obtuse angles to lines 24 to prevent the shearing of the pivots 52. The pin is indicated at 53, and the slot at 54.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is.;

1. In combination, a railroad crossing including a roadway and a track crossing the roadway, a gate movable across the roadway, means normally holding the gate closed, a vehicle operated apparatus for opening the gate, a locking member normally out of engagement with the apparatus, a pair,` of train operated mechanisms arranged along thc trackway one to each side of thc roadway, and means between the mechanisms so that when one is operated, the other is disposed in an inoperative position. l

2. In combination, a railroad crossing including a roadway and a track crossing the roadway, a gate associated with the roadway, means normally holding the gate in a closed position, a vehicle operated apparatus for opening the gate, a locking member normally out of engagement with the apparatus, a pair of train operated mechanisms for moving the locking member in engagement with the apparatus for `prevent-ing a vehicle from operating the gate to an open position, one mechanism being disposed to each side of the roadway, and means between the mechanisms whereby the operation of one causes the other to become ineffective.

3. In combination, a railroad crossing, a pair of train operated mechanisms arranged alongside of the railroad, one to each side of the crossing, an apparatus actuatable by said mechanisms, and means between the mechanisms so that the ope-ration of one causes the other to become ineffective.

4. In combination, a pair of train operated members, plates, one slidable by each of the members, a rotatable device, a bar fixed to the rotatable device and having upstanding ends, said plates provided with openings for receiving the upstanding ends, a pair of crank shafts having terminal cranks engageable with the plates so that when one plate is slid by the actuation of one train operated member, the other plate is lifted out of engagement with the bar.

5. In combination, a pair of train operated members, plates, one slidable by each of the members, a rotatable device, a bar fixed to the rotatable device and having upstanding ends, said plates provided with openings for receiving the upstanding ends, a pair of crank shafts having terminal cranks engageable with the plates so that when one plate is slid by the actuation of one train operated member, the other plate is lifted out of engagement with the bar, another bar fixed -to the rotatable member, a pivotally mounted lever engageable by the second bar, a locking member actuatable by the lever, means for normally holding the locking member in an ineffective position, a gate, and vehicle operated apparatus for opening the gate with which said locking member is engageable for preventing its operation.

G. In combination, a. pair of train operated members, plates, one slidable by cach of the members, a rotatable device, a bar fixed to the rotatable device and having upstanding ends, said plates provided with openings for receiving the upstanding ends, a pair of crank shafts having terminal cranks engageable with the plates so that when one plate is slid by the actuation of one train operated member, the other plate is lifted out of engagement with the bar, another bar fixed to the rotatable member, a pivotally mounted lever engageable by the second bar, a locking member actuatable by the lever, means for normally holding the locking member in an ineffective position, a gate, and vehicle operated apparatus for opening the gate with which said locking member is engageable for preventing thc operation, and means normally holding the gate in a closed position.

7. In combination, a pivotally mounted tread, a gate for closing travel over the tread, a crank shaft rotatably mounted under the tread and including a crank engageable with the under surface of the tread, means normally holding the crank shaft so that the crank holds the tread in a raised position, and means associated between the crank and the gate for normally holdingthe gate closed, so that when a vehicle moves on the tread, said tread moves downwardly and said gate opens.

8. In combination, a pivotally mounted tread, a gate swingablc over the tread, a crank shaft rotatably mounted below the tread and having a crank engaged with the under surface of the tread, an arm xed to one end of the crank shaft, a rod connecting the upper end of the arm and the gate, and means engageable with the arm for normally holding the gate closed and the tread raised.

9. In combination, a pivotally mounted tread, a gate swingable over the tread, a crank shaft rotatably mounted below the tread and having a crank engaged with the under surface of the tread, an arm fixed to one end of the crank shaft, a rod connecting the upper end of the arm and the gate, means engageable with the arm for normally holding the gate closed and the tread raised, a bar having a pin and slot connection with the gate supporting structure and pivotally engaged with an intermediate portion of the arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLAUDE BRADSHAVV.

Cil 

